What does an old church and a new release of vintage sparkling wine have in common?

Not a lot, but if you are involved with the Three Cobbers wine group there are synergies between the two.

Winemakers from Three Cobbers, the result of a collaboration of Vale Creek Wines, Grass Parrot Wines and Renzaglia wines, have taken St John’s Church at Georges Plains under their wing.

The historic building has sat dormant for many years, but now that’s changed.

According to Mark Renzaglia from Three Cobbers, the Lenehan family purchased the property on which the church is located a number of years ago because they didn’t want to see it go to rack and ruin.

“My wife Sandy approached the Lenehans about holding a special function there to increase awareness about the church’s presence,” he said. “In exchange we would figure out ways of helping restore it and reinvigorating it. As a result we held a degustation dinner there in March.

“Before the dinner we tidied the place up, did some landscaping and made it habitable again. The funds raised from that event allowed us to do some restoration work, including fixing the leadlight windows.”“

Earlier this week a contingent from the Three Cobbers returned to the church to reinstate two of the leadlight windows.

They now have plans to hold more functions at the church.

“The timing of having the leadlight windows ready couldn’t have been better, because on Saturday morning at the Farmers Markets at the showground we will be launching the Cobbers 2015 sparking chardonnay,” Mark said.

“Come and try a drop on Saturday morning. with the official launch at about 10.30am.”